Ada: The Witch Huntress

Chapter 8: Fleeting Sanctuary

“I know, Ga’lleada, I know…” she answered with a tearful smile. The baby looked utterly different, but she still had her amethyst eyes. Why did she have to retain the very part that she hated the most? She winced at the thought of Mi’gaera that she held Ga’lleada’s tiny little hand in an attempt to ease the pain.

However, she was surprised to find out that Ga’lleada’s still clutching the green portal stone in that little hand of hers. Ga’lleada cooed after she retrieved the stone from her. “Yes, you did a good job, my little Ada...” She didn’t know how the stone transported itself to this realm, but she got a feeling that Mi’gaera never intended to leave with them. She couldn’t hold herself back and cry while cradling Ga’lleada up to her chest.

Then she looked at the man holding Ga’lleada. He looked like he’s in his fifties, and he smiled at her warmly as she looked straight into his eyes. “Thank you for finding them for me,” she muttered.

“I’ll explain later, but this is no time to have this conversation. We need to leave here immediately,” the man instructed courteously. The man gave her garments to change into, which were utterly weird that it took her so much time to change into it. But she had no choice now since she was in a different realm. They all had to fit in. They left the enormous white place, called a hospital, according to the man.

They drove for hours in his automatic chariot. The realm’s air was too thin compared to that in Wicceros. The first time she tried to breathe in the air along their trip, she coughed vehemently. Ni’mula felt like she’s in a realm of deserted ruins because of the dust and ghastly sight everywhere.

She was amazed at first upon seeing tall edifices that are much more enormous than their very own Qi’lentir in Alendar but realized immediately that tall trees and mountains are much better sight than these.

After driving for a few hours, the man fed them weird food with too much spice that almost ruined their palate, and Ga’lleada was fed with a diluted fluid that resembled a milk.

“Listen. The news about your resurrections is a hot topic right now, so if anyone recognizes you, you’d be in a tough situation. And, with that thing,” the man pointed to a square box with a person speaking inside, “the news about you could be found anywhere. It's called a television, by the way,” the man explained.

Ni’mula and Hi’laria consecutively arched their brows in confusion while listening to him. Plus, they are still waiting for his answer as to why he was helping them. “I’m doing this because of my debt,” the man explained further as if he saw through their minds.

“How did you find us?” Hi’laria queried.

“The portal stone works that way. Mi’gaera made sure that you’d be transported somewhere easy for me to find.”

A stab of pain worked through Ni’mula’s heart as she remembered her poor daughter. The man handed her an envelope which contained white papers and a map.

“Mi’gaera already got you a place where you can live peacefully. Don’t worry. I didn’t take a look at that,” the man assured them. “Start your life somewhere… somewhere I don’t need to know. It’s much better that way,” the man confided.

“If I learned how to get by myself, I know you will too, in no time. Learn more about humans, use new identities and quietly fit in. Avoid using your powers. Humans referred to us ‘changelings’ as ‘witches.’ Be wary, humans are slightly aware of our existence, and they treat our kind differently,” the man went on.

She and Hi’laria instinctively looked at each other as they heard the man. The man seemed to understand their puzzlement.

“Changeling?”

“There are more of us out there?” Hi’laria and Ni’mula simultaneously asked.

“Oh! It refers to someone of our kind who stole a dying soul’s body. We call ourselves ‘changelings.’ And, yes, we are not alone. Many of our kind are scattered here and there. Some were like me— banished from our realm. Many are like you, just looking for a normal and peaceful place to settle in.”

“You are banished from Wicceros? Why?” Hi’laria asked curiously.

“Just… a punishment…” he stammered, probably uncomfortable about telling them the reason for his banishment.

“It is more of a question why many of our kind would choose to escape from our realm,” Ni’mula asserted. She tried reading his thoughts, but she couldn’t, and she doesn’t know why.

The man shrugged. “That, I don’t know.”

“Then, what have you done that you got banished from our realm,” Ni’mula rephrased the question, but the man was eager to stay silent about it.

“You don’t need to know anything about me… even my name, as I’ll be leaving you three as soon as you take off on your private plane. And this…” The man handed them a leather suitcase. Hi’laria quickly opened the case and was bemused to see the bag full of rectangular paper bundles printed with unknown symbols.

“What’s this?” Hi’laria took a bundle and waved it in front of the man.

“You wouldn’t want to display it like that. A lot of humans are easily blinded by that thing. It’s called a bill or money. You use those to buy some food, clothes, tickets for a ride, and anything necessary. It’s like our coins and crystals at home. You’ll learn soon enough how to handle that thing properly.”

The man bade farewell as they got on the plane. Ni’mula saw the man waving at them through the window as the plane started to take off. Then Ga’lleada suddenly cried, and she tried to calm her down for a minute. When she looked back at the window, the man was already gone, as if he really wasn’t there.

With the help of kind and considerate humans, they had successfully reached their designated home at Runda Sevilla, Spain, where they lived abundantly for about eighteen peaceful years.

~~~~

Present

Ada’s jaw dropped as Ni’mula removed the glowing stone set on her necklace and handed it swiftly to her.

“Swallow this!” Ni’mula commanded at her granddaughter firmly.